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SAMUEL JOHNSON, LL.D.

DEAR SIR,

By infcribing this flight performance to you, I do not

mean fo much to compliment you as myself. It may do me some honour to inform the public, that I have lived many years in intimacy with you. It may ferve the interests of mankind alfo to inform them that the greatest wit may be found in a character, without impairing the moft unaffected piety.

I have particularly reafon to thank you for your partiality to this performance. The undertaking a comedy, not merely fentimental, was very dangerous; and Mr. Colman, who faw this piece in its various ftages, always thought it fo. However I ventured to truft it to the public; and, though it was neceffarily delayed till late in the season, I have every reason to be grateful. I am,

DEAR SIR,

YOUR MOST SINCERE FRIEND AND ADMIRER,

OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

PROLOGUE.

BY

DAVID GARRICK, ESQ.

Enter Mr. WOODWARD, dreffed in black, and holding a handkerchief to his eyes.

EXCUSE me, firs, I pray-I can't yet speak—————

I'm crying now; and have been all the week.
""Tis not alone this mourning fuit," good mafters;
"I've that within"-for which there are no plasters !
Pray, wou'd you know the reason why I'm crying?
The comic mufe, long fick, is now a dying?
And if she goes, my tears will never stop;
For as a play'r, I can't fqueeze out one drop.
I am undone that's all- -shall lofe my bread
I'd rather, but that's nothing-lofe my head.
When the sweet maid is laid upon the bier,
Shuter and I fhall be chief mourners here.
To her a mawkish drab of spurious breed,
Who deals in Sentimentals, will fucceed!
Poor Ned and I are dead to all intents ;
We can as soon speak Greek as sentiments !
Both nervous grown, to keep our spirits up,
We now and then take down a hearty cup.
What fhall we do? -If Comedy forfake us?
They'll turn us out, and no one else will take us.

But, why can't I be moral?

Let me try

My heart thus preffing-fixed my face and eyeWith a fententious look, that nothing means, (Faces are blocks in fentimental scenes)

Thus I begin" All is not gold that glitters,

"Pleasures seem fweet, but proves a glass of bitters

་

When ign'rance enters, folly is at hand :

"Learning is better far than house and land. "Let not your virtue trip, who trips may stumble, "And virtue is not virtue, if fhe tumble." I give it up morals won't do for me; To make you laugh, I muft play tragedy. One hope remains-hearing the maid was ill, A Doctor comes this night to fhew his skill. To chear her heart, and give your muscles motion, He, in five Draughts prepar'd, presents a potion: A kind of magic charm-for be affur'd, If you will fwallow it, the maid is cur'd:

But defperate the Doctor, and her cafe is,

If

you reject the dose, and make wry faces!

This truth he boafts, will boaft it while he lives,
No pois'nous drugs are mix'd in what he gives.
Should he fucceed, you'll give him his degree;
If not, within he will receive no fee!

The college You, muft his pretenfions back,
Pronounce him Regular, or dub him Quack,

K